they were some of the first boots on the ground in afghanistan. they have been deployed continuously ever since. today, we can see our progress in this war and our success against al qaeda, and we're beginning to bring our troops home from afghanistan this summer. understand there will be more fighting - and more sacrifices - in the months and years to come. but i am confident that because of the service of men and women like leroy, we will be able to say of this generation what president reagan once said of those rangers who took the cliffs on d-day -- "these are the heroes who helped end a war." i would ask all of our rangers -- members of the 9/11 generation -- to stand and accept the thanks of a grateful nation. finally, the service of leroy petry speaks to the very essence of america -- that spirit that says, no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don't quit. we don't give up. leroy lost a hand and those wounds in his legs sometimes make it hard for him to stand. but he pushes on, and even joined his fellow rangers